Most people believe diamond or obsidian blades are the sharpest objects in the world if you ask them what they think the sharpest thing is. Obsidian and diamond can cut through rigid materials, but that answer must be more accurate.
You can make very sharp blades from diamonds and obsidian. Diamonds are used for cutting tools in many industries, and obsidian has been used for sharp tools since the Stone Age. You might get a shock after learning that the sharpest thing in the world makes no use of either of these materials.
Discover the sharpest thing in the world with this article.
Can We Measure Sharpness?
Our first step should be to identify how to measure sharpness. Sharpness does not have its unit of measurement.
It is a fact that some objects can be considered sharp when used in one application while being blunt when used in another.
The grind angle determines the sharpness of knives and blades. In the case of the blade edge, this angle represents its advantage mechanically. Sharper blades have a lower pitch.
Sharp blades (those with a low angle) are more prone to deforming or chipping. A more rigid blade will bend more difficultly than a softer one, making it more brittle and chippable. Rockwell is just one of many hardness scales available for measuring hardness.
A Sharp Object Is Not Always the Best
It’s only sometimes necessary to have the sharpest object. The degree of sharpness depends on the use case in most cases.
However, objects used for different purposes can still be considered highly sharp even if they don’t share the same mechanical properties. In contrast to an axeblade, a razorblade is more sharp (because its grind angle is lower), but not as sharp as an axe.
It is not the sharpness of a cutting tool that matters most. Moreover, you should consider longevity and ease of use (and manufacture).
Is Diamond or Obsidian the Sharpest Object in the World?
The sharpest blade you can find is different in terms of practicality because brittleness usually goes hand in hand with sharpness. The tool should last throughout its intended use and won’t need to be sharpened whenever you use it.
Although diamond and obsidian blades don’t have the sharpest edges, they can come close. However, there are also problems with these systems that make them unusable in various situations.
The Problem with Diamond Blades
We know that diamond is a tough substance. Therefore, you could use it to make a blade that is very sharp and durable. Actually, no. The hardness of the diamond makes it brittle and prone to cleaving, but it is also extremely strong.
If you were to construct a sword using only diamonds, it would shatter the moment you hit a metal object with it.
Metal swords with diamond edges would be an alternative. The metal would still cut the diamond in this case, despite it being very sharp.
Obsidian Is Also Very Sharp and Brittle
It has been used to make sharp objects since ancient times due to its natural glass properties. While this substance can be extremely sharp – it could theoretically shatter into atoms – it is highly fragile.
The diamond’s hardness and obsidian’s brittleness make obsidian a rigid material. Although obsidian is excellent for sharp edges, it could be a better blade material. Obsidian blades are likely to shatter under minor impacts.
The Actual Sharpest Thing in the World
The sharpest object in the world is only an atom thick, so obsidian could be as sharp as it. Aside from its thickness, the sharpest thing also has the additional attribute of being artificial.
What is the sharpest thing in the world?
How about a scanning tunnel microscope’s nanotip? You are right!
An expensive microscope’s tip is one of the sharpest thing in the world.
Is There a Use for the Sharpest Object in The World?
Is it possible to use a needle with an atom’s thickness?
The needle tip must be skinny to reach and image the atomic levels.
Tungsten or platinum alloy wire tips require a high-precision electrochemical etching or mechanical shearing process.
Individual atoms can be visible with these microscopes due to their depth capability. A thicker needle tip would not be able to accomplish this.
What Could We do to Make an Even Sharper Object?
There is no such thing as an object thinner than one atom because everything comprises atoms. Even though they have never been observed, cosmic cracks (or strings) are theorized to exist in nature.
Strings can theoretically have a thickness of one Planck length. Because Planck lengths are the most minor units in the universe, these cracks would naturally be sharp.
The scanning tunnel microscope’s tip is the sharpest object in the world regarding real-world scenarios, and the needle tip is the sharpest.
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